Brown Student Group To Host A Panel Discussion About Women In Science

A student group at Brown University will host a panel discussion about women in science this evening. It’s open to the public. The panelists will talk about the rewards and challenges of navigating a career in science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM for short.

Students and faculty at Brown often talk about how to diversify STEM careers. But those conversations happen in isolation, said Heather Bennett, a molecular cell biology grad student and chapter vice president of the Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS), which is hosting the discussion.

“And our goal is to make this an open discussion, to reach across all the STEM departments here at Brown University, but also to engage the community and invite them to take part.”

The panel will feature women scientists from a few schools, including Brown, MIT, and the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Among several topics, the scientists will share insights about how to overcome the gender gap within STEM fields and to balance work and life.

Eric James, SACNAS chapter president and a neuroscience grad student, said the event will give people a chance to engage with women scientists of diverse backgrounds and at different career stages.

“So some are really just beginning, others are senior level faculty or administrators, and actually have their own advocacy and outreach organizations beyond their work within science,” said James. “So I really do think that the broader community at large can benefit from what they have to say.”

The panel discussion takes place in Salomon 101 at Brown from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. A light reception will begin at 6 p.m. Registration is optional.